Brian Dietzen
The actor who turned a one-day guest spot into a beloved, decade-spanning role as the earnest heart of a hit TV procedural.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American actor·Birthday: November 14·Generation X
Biography
Brian Dietzen arrived on 'NCIS' in 2004 for what was meant to be a single episode, playing the slightly nervous assistant to the medical examiner. But something about Jimmy Palmer clicked. His endearing awkwardness, his genuine warmth, and his gradual growth from a fumbling assistant to a confident, board-certified pathologist provided the long-running series with one of its most reliable sources of heart. Dietzen, a Colorado native who studied theater at the University of Colorado Boulder, had done bit parts in films like 'From Justin to Kelly' before landing this career-defining role. Over the years, he quietly became a fixture, promoted to series regular in 2012. He evolved Palmer through personal tragedy, marriage, and fatherhood, all while maintaining the character's essential decency. In a show built on crime-solving machinery, Dietzen ensured there was always a human pulse.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Brian was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Brian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Dr. Jimmy Palmer on 'NCIS' for over 20 seasons, from a recurring guest to a series regular.
- Co-wrote the emotionally charged 2021 episode 'The First Day,' which dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Has directed multiple episodes of 'NCIS' in its later seasons.
- Performed on stage in regional theater productions prior to his television breakthrough.
Did You Know?
He is an avid fan of the Denver Broncos and the Colorado Avalanche.
He is a skilled guitarist and has performed music publicly.
He originally auditioned for a different role on 'NCIS' before being cast as Jimmy Palmer.
He and his wife have two children, and the family resides in Los Angeles.
“Sometimes the most important thing you can do is just show up and be decent.”
